hair color advice NEEDED PLS

yes, i am frowning. after trying unsuccessfully to color my hair myself, I broke down and had the PRO do it. my hair as she defined its color is a dark dark blonde. yuck i think. but i`d tried highlighting it only to get several different orangey projects. when i went to her last week, it was drab, washed out and reddy blondey orange brown. yuck x2. so she suggested going back to my natural colro and then foil highlighting some gold in. okay now im back to my darker natural color . but i wanted it golder, warmer. it`s kinda cool looking. and the highlights arent goldy cinnamony . WHEN i LOOK IN THE MIRROR I SEE MY MOM WITH HER SALT and pepper hair if that describes it. and i hate it and myself right now and need help. i will add it is fine, fine and naturally curly. very curly. my eyes are blue, very blue. my face is a nice oval but i can`t even get past this salt and pepper stuff on my head to see any thing positive.
LADIES I NEED ADVICE. i cant afford to have a PRO do it again so i am ready to get in the car and go to whatever drugstore or supply house to find something that won`t hurt it, but will golden it and lighten it up a little. i feel like i got ten yrs. older although she promised i`d feel younger....

HELP HELP HELP with product advice etc.
thank you in advance...
val

hi val. sounds like you`ve been having quite a few mishaps w. color! lol. i am sorry the stylist couldnt give you what u were looking for. well, before you start coloring, i suggest you wait 2 wks before you color again. your hair is curly, so i suggest twice a week for those 2 weeks, you deep condition. 3 days after your last deep conditioning treatment is when u can color again. because your hair is curly, i would recommend staying a darker shade ie- go only 2 shades lighter then your natural color. i think a good drugstore coloring for you to try is the new "open" line by l`oreal. pick any shade with "gold", "copper", "warm", or "red" in the name to make it warmer. i chose this line because it has no ammonia. this is a good thing for curly hair, because ammonia drys hair out, and curly hair is already moisture deprived enough. follow the directiong that come with the color on how to use the conditioner you get in the box. hope this works out for you.
penny